PAL Laoag-HK flights start Dec. 17

Philippine Airlines will start a special commercial service between Laoag and Hong Kong on December 17, 2000, opening a new route aimed at boosting tourism to the scenic Northern Philippines.

The service will be operated three times a week in partnership with Laoag-based Waterfront Fort Ilocandia Resort Hotel, the premier leisure complex in the region.

Departures (PR 220) from Laoag are every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday at 5:15 P.M. Arrival in Hong Kong is at 6:40 P.M.

The return service, PR 221, departs Hong Kong on the same days at 7:40 P.M. and touches down in Laoag at 9:05 P.M.

PAL will utilize Airbus 320-200 aircraft, which seats 12 in Mabuhay (business) class and 138 in economy, on the one-hour-and-25-minute flight.

The service is designed to cater to the growing leisure market out of Hong Kong bound for the northern Ilocos region – a heretofore untapped area for international tourism but brimming with potential.

The region is famed for its well-preserved 16th century Spanish colonial architecture, unspoiled coastline and rugged mountainous interior.

Laoag, capital of Ilocos Norte province, is the regional center of commerce, education and political administration, and hosts the area’s only international airport.

The service marks PAL’s return to Laoag after an absence of two and a half years. Laoag welcomed its first PAL flight in February 1946, becoming one of the flag carrier’s pioneer destinations.

Over the next half century, Laoag evolved into a key station in the PAL network as the airline developed the city into its main hub for Northern Philippines. PAL even briefly mounted a direct service between Laoag and Honolulu from 1996 to 1997 to serve the huge Ilocano migrant population in Hawaii.

The airline suspended its Laoag operations in June 1998 due to financial and operational difficulties.

The Laoag service follows a similar special commercial arrangement last November 5 under which PAL operates a weekly direct service between Subic Bay and Hong Kong. The flag carrier is developing international services out of secondary points to serve emerging tourist markets.